SummaryCyclic Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) containing synthetic peptides such as L-cysteine, N-(mercaptoacetyl)-D-tyrosyl-L-arginylglycyl-L-a-aspartyl-cyclic (1→5)-sulfide, 5-oxide (G4120) and acetyl-L-cysteinyl-L-asparaginyl-L-prolyl-L-arginyl-glycyl-L-α-aspartyl-[0-methyltyrosyl]-L-arginyl-L-cysteinamide, cyclic 1→9-sulfide (TP9201) bind with high affinity to the platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor.The relationship between antithrombotic effect, ex vivo platelet aggregation and bleeding time prolongation with both agents was studied in hamsters with a standardized femoral vein endothelial cell injury predisposing to platelet-rich mural thrombosis, and in dogs with a carotid arterial eversion graft inserted in the femoral artery. Intravenous administration of G4120 in hamsters inhibited in vivo thrombus formation with a 50% inhibitory bolus dose (ID50) of approximately 20 μg/kg, ex vivo ADP-induccd platelet aggregation with ID50 of 10 μg/kg, and bolus injection of 1 mg/kg prolonged the bleeding time from 38 ± 9 to 1,100 ± 330 s. Administration of TP9201 in hamsters inhibited in vivo thrombus formation with ID50 of 30 μg/kg, ex vivo platelet aggregation with an ID50 of 50 μg/kg and bolus injection of 1 mg/kg did not prolong the template bleeding time. In the dog eversion graft model, infusion of 100 μg/kg of G4120 over 60 min did not fully inhibit platelet-mediated thrombotic occlusion but was associated with inhibition of ADP-induccd ex vivo platelet aggregation and with prolongation of the template bleeding time from 1.3 ± 0.4 to 12 ± 2 min. Infusion of 300 μg/kg of TP9201 over 60 min completely prevented thrombotic occlusion, inhibited ex vivo platelet aggregation, but was not associated with prolongation of the template bleeding time.TP9201, unlike G4120, inhibits in vivo platelet-mediated thrombus formation without associated prolongation of the template bleeding time.